AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G vs AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 Comparison

AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G and AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 are both 8-core, 16-thread processors built on TSMC's 4 nm process, but they are engineered for different physical envelopes and performance targets. The 450G is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM5 with a 65 W TDP, while the Max 385 is a mobile part on AMD Socket FP11 with a 55 W TDP. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the desktop chip wins in single-threaded throughput, while the mobile chip dominates in multi-threaded and math-heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victory for the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G comes in single-thread performance. In the PassMark single-thread test, the 450G scores 4309 against 4060 for the Max 385, a 6.1% advantage. This is the only category where the desktop part takes the lead, and it reflects the 450G's higher 5.10 GHz boost clock compared to the Max 385's 5.00 GHz.

Every other head-to-head benchmark favors the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385. The largest gap appears in the prime number search test, where the Max 385 scores 165 versus 87 for the 450G, a 47.3% difference. That result is a strong indicator of integer-heavy, branch-intensive code execution, where the Max 385's architecture is substantially faster.

The physics simulation benchmark also shows a wide margin. The Max 385 scores 1889, while the 450G scores 1440, putting the mobile part 23.8% ahead. Extended instruction workloads, which often include encryption and compression routines, favor the Max 385 by 16.7% (33873 vs 28223). Floating-point math shows a 10.4% lead for the Max 385 (71105 vs 63683), and integer math follows with a 6.8% advantage (107046 vs 99732).

In the broader multi-threaded tests, the Max 385 continues its dominance. The PassMark multithread score is 33705 for the Max 385 versus 30422 for the 450G, a 9.7% margin. Data encryption shows a 5% lead for the Max 385 (19926 vs 18937), while data compression is nearly a tie at 406505 vs 402831, a 0.9% difference. Random string sorting also lands close, with the Max 385 ahead by 2.4% (43725 vs 42663).

The overall head-to-head tally is 9 wins for the Max 385 and 2 wins for the 450G. The 450G's two wins are both from the same single-thread metric, which appears twice in the dataset.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G is the pick for workloads that depend on low-latency, single-core responsiveness. Its 6.1% lead in single-thread scoring makes it better suited for lightly threaded tasks, such as legacy applications, certain database queries, or user-interface responsiveness, where a single core's boost clock determines performance. The desktop socket and 65 W TDP also mean it can sustain that boost behavior in a system with more robust cooling.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 is the clear winner for multi-threaded and math-intensive operations. The 47.3% lead in prime number calculation and the 23.8% lead in physics simulation indicate that its Zen 5 architecture benefits heavily from parallel execution and high memory bandwidth. The Max 385's 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, delivered through a quad-channel LPDDR5X interface, is a major factor in its 9.7% multithread lead. Tasks like 3D rendering, scientific computation, video encoding, and large-scale data processing should favor the Max 385.

The data also shows the Max 385 handles encryption work better, with a 5% lead in data encryption. The extended instructions score, 16.7% higher, suggests that SIMD-heavy code, including modern media processing and cryptography, runs faster on the mobile part.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G scores 4309 in the PassMark single-thread test, which is 6.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385's score of 4060.

Q: How much faster is the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Max 385 scores 33705 in the PassMark multithread test, a 9.7% improvement over the 450G's 30422.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Max 385 scores 165 and the 450G scores 87, a 47.3% difference in favor of the Max 385.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G and the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 support ECC memory.

Q: How do the two processors compare in data compression performance?

A: They are nearly identical. The Max 385 scores 406505 and the 450G scores 402831, a difference of only 0.9% in favor of the Max 385.

Specification Differences

The two processors share the same core count (8 cores, 16 threads) and L1/L2 cache structure (80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core), but diverge in nearly every other specification.

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. It uses AMD Socket AM5, is unlocked for overclocking, and supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory through a dual-channel interface, providing 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. Its L3 cache is 8 MB, and it has 12 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. The integrated graphics are Radeon 860M. It is classified as a desktop part and was released on 2026-02-28. The die size is 195 mm².

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, with a 55 W TDP. It uses AMD Socket FP11, is locked (multiplier not unlocked), and supports only LPDDR5X memory through a quad-channel interface, providing 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its L3 cache is 32 MB (shared), and it has 16 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. The integrated graphics are Radeon 8050S. It is classified as a mobile part and was released on 2025-01-05. The die size is listed as 2x 70.6 mm².

The memory bandwidth difference is substantial: 256.0 GB/s for the Max 385 versus 89.6 GB/s for the 450G, a 2.86x advantage for the mobile chip. The L3 cache is also 4x larger on the Max 385 (32 MB vs 8 MB).

Architecture Differences

Both processors use TSMC's 4 nm process, but they belong to different architectures and codenames. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G is part of the Ryzen AI 400 generation, codenamed Gorgon Point, and its generation entry lists Zen 5 / Zen 5c. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 is part of the Ryzen AI Max generation, codenamed Strix Halo, and is explicitly listed as Zen 5 architecture.

The physical design differs significantly. The 450G uses a single die of 195 mm², while the Max 385 uses a dual-die configuration with two dies of 70.6 mm² each, for a combined area of 141.2 mm². The smaller combined die area on the Max 385, despite containing 4x the L3 cache, indicates a different layout strategy.

Memory architecture is another key divider. The 450G uses a dual-channel memory bus, while the Max 385 uses a quad-channel bus. This directly explains the memory bandwidth gap. The Max 385 also restricts memory support to LPDDR5X only, whereas the 450G can use both DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

The integrated graphics differ as well: the 450G carries a Radeon 860M, while the Max 385 carries a Radeon 8050S. The Max 385 also provides more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12), both at Gen 4. The 450G is unlocked for overclocking, while the Max 385 is not. Market segment placement is opposite: the 450G is a desktop part, and the Max 385 is a mobile part.

The Verdict

The benchmark data delivers a clear directive based on workload type. For single-threaded performance, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G is the stronger choice. Its 6.1% single-thread lead and higher 5.10 GHz boost clock, combined with an unlocked multiplier and AM5 socket, make it the appropriate pick for systems built around desktop responsiveness and overclocking flexibility.

For multi-threaded, math-heavy, and memory-intensive work, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 is the better processor. It wins 9 of the 11 head-to-head benchmarks, with decisive margins in prime number calculation (47.3%), physics simulation (23.8%), and extended instructions (16.7%). Its quad-channel LPDDR5X memory interface delivering 256.0 GB/s and its 32 MB shared L3 cache are the structural advantages that drive these results.

The average benchmark scores reflect the overall context. The 450G has an average benchmark score of 63331 and sits at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, while the Max 385 has an average score of 44309 and sits at the 88th percentile. The discrepancy between the Max 385's lower average score and its head-to-head dominance over the 450G is explained by the dataset: the Max 385's average includes Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 results, which are not measured for the 450G, pulling its average down despite its strong PassMark showings.

The choice comes down to platform and workload. Builders targeting a desktop AM5 system with an eye on single-thread speed and overclocking should select the Ryzen AI 7 450G. Users prioritizing parallel compute, large data sets, and integrated graphics performance in a mobile form factor should select the Ryzen AI Max 385.